Hydrangea plant  named &#39;BIV01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar named ‘BIV01’ is disclosed, characterized by a an exceptionally dense inflorescence with tightly held individual flowers forming a spongey texture. Plants can be grown in sun or partial shade. The new variety is a Hydrangea, normally produced as an ornamental plant for containers or gardens.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea quercifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘BIV01’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Hydrangea cultivar is a product of chance discovery by theinventor in a personal garden in Ranburne, Ala.

The inventor identified an interesting seedling growing in a gardencomprised of unnamed, unpatented Hydrangea quercifolia plants. Theinventor observed this interesting plant over several years, noting theexceptionally dense flowerheads and later the bronze coloration of theFall foliage.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘BIV01’ by softwood cuttingswas first performed during the May of 2012, at commercial nursery inLoxley, Ala. Subsequent propagation has shown that the unique featuresof this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘BIV01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘BIV01’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘BIV01’ as a new and distinct Hydrangeacultivar:

-   -   1. Exceptionally dense, inflorescence. Flowers are tightly        packed together, producing a unique “spongey” texture.    -   2. Red-bronze Fall foliage.    -   3. Tolerance for both full sun and partial shade.    -   4. Long lasting inflorescence suitable for cut flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

The inventor cannot accurately identify seed and pollen parents.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘BIV01’ are similar to plants of Hydrangea quercifolia ‘Snow Queen’,U.S. Plant Pat. No. 04458, in most horticultural characteristics,however, plants of the new cultivar ‘BIV01’ differ in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety tolerates sun better than this comparator.    -   2. The new variety produces a much denser inflorescence than        this comparator.    -   3. The new variety produces an inflorescence which is more round        to slightly conical, this comparator produces a narrow conical        inflorescence.

‘BIV01’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Hydrangea‘Harmony’. These varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however ‘BIV01’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety tolerates sun better than this comparator.    -   2. While this comparator produces a dense inflorescence, the new        variety produces a denser inflorescence, with flowers packed        even more tightly together.    -   3. Flowering stems of the new variety are stiffer and less prone        to dropping or falling over under the weight of the flower.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates multiple inflorescenceon a flowering plant of ‘BIV01’ grown in a outdoors in Loxley, Ala.

FIG. 2. illustrates in full color a typical inflorescence of ‘BIV01’.Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2-3 years. Thephotographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colorsmay appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it isas accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to the 2007Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘BIV01’ plants outdoors, in Loxley, Ala. USA.The growing temperature ranged from approximately 18° C. to 27° C.daytime and 5° to 10° C. at night. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types. Measurements were takenduring August of 2016.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea quercifolia ‘BIV01’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 18 days at            approximately 27° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Approximately 60 days            at approximately 27° C.        -   Root description.—Thick and fine, freely root branching and            dense, fibrous. Color is white and brown, not accurately            measured with an RHS chart.        -   Propagation method.—Softwood cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years.        -   Pot size.—3 gallon.        -   Growth habit.—Flowering, deciduous perennial shrub.        -   Overall plant shape.—Broad V-shape.        -   Height.—50 cm.        -   Plant spread.—100 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Good.        -   Plant vigor.—Good.        -   Branching characteristics.—Basal branching from a pinch.        -   Length of lateral branches.—Average 25 to 35 cm.        -   Number of lateral branches.—4 to 6 main branches, each with            2 to 6 lateral branches, after pinching.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—7 to 11 mm.        -   Lateral branch shape.—Round.        -   Texture.—Mature wood rough with thin, peeling bark. Immature            branches densely puberulent.        -   Lateral branch strength.—Moderate.        -   Internode length.—Average range 3.0 to 7.0 cm.        -   Branch color.—Immature: Near RHS Yellow-Green 152D, densely            covered in hairs colored near Greyed-Orange 175B. Mature:            Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175C, covered in bark colored            Greyed-Green 197A.        -   Branch angle.—45 to 75°.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite. Average Length: 24 to 32 cm.            Average Width: 12 to 16 cm. Shape of blade: Overall ovate,            deeply lobed with 4 or more commonly 6 sinuses. Apex: Acute.            Base: Rounded to truncate. Margin: Lobed. Uniformly serrate,            2 mm long serrations occurring 5 mm apart. Texture and            appearance of top surface: Short hirsute, matte. Texture and            appearance of bottom surface: Matte, mainly glabrous. Few            hirsute hairs on veins. Color: Young foliage upper side:            Near RHS Green 143A. Young foliage under side: Near RHS            Green 138B. Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Fall foliage            upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175C flushed Greyed-Red            180A. Fall foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange 175D            flushed Greyed-Red 180A. Venation: Type: Pinnate. Venation            color upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Orange N170A. Venation            color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: 7 to 9 cm. Diameter: 5 mm. Color:            Upper side: Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161B. Under side: Near            RHS Yellow-Green 145B. Texture upper side: Pubescent.            Texture under side: Pubescent.-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Natural Season: Early Summer until Fall.        -   Inflorescence.—Arrangement: Terminal corymb. Very dense.            Commercial Type: Mophead. Infloresence shape: Globular to            somewhat conical. Panicle Height: 15 to 20 cm. Panicle            Diameter: 15-20 cm. Panicle shape: Quantity of flowers per            inflorescence: Fertile flowers not observed to date. Sterile            Flowers, 250 to 450 approximate average. Persistent or            self-cleaning: Persistent. Fragrance: None. Vase life: 2 to            3 weeks.        -   Sterile flower.—Bud shape: Obovate. Bud length: 4.0 mm. Bud            diameter: 5.0 mm. Bud color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.            Flower aspect: Upright and outward. Flower shape: Cruciform.            Flower Diameter: Average range 20 to 25 mm. Flower Depth:            10 mm. Aspect: Upwardly cupped.        -   Sterile flower sepals.—Petal Arrangement: Cruciform. Petal            Number: 4. Length of petal: Approximately 11 to 15 mm. Width            of petal: Approximately 10 to 12 mm. Angel of            Attachment/Aspect: Petals angled upward approximately 45°            from point of attachment. Petals upwardly cupped. Apex:            Rounded. Shape of petal: Obovate. Petal margin: Entire.            Petal Base: Obtuse. Petal Texture: Smooth, upper and under            sides. Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A, blotched Green 143C. Upper surface at            maturity: Near RHS White 155A. Under surface at first            opening: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C, blotched Yellow-Green            143A. Under surface at maturity: Near RHS White 155A. Color            when fading: Upper and lower surfaces: Near RHS Yellow-Green            145A.        -   Sterile flower petal.—Highly reduced and malformed            structure. Less than 1mm, colored near Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Sterile flower pedicel.—Length: 10 to 12 mm. Diameter: 1 mm.            Angle: Upright and outward. Strength: Flexible, not prone to            breakage. Texture: Smooth. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green            145B.        -   Fertile flower.—Not observed to date.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Sterile flower.—All reproductive parts irregular and            malformed, reduced to less than 1 mm or not present.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease resistance.—Neither resistance nor susceptibility to            diseases or pests has been observed in this variety.        -   Temperature tolerance.—USDA Zones 5 through 9. No tolerance            for drought.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Seed production not observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plantnamed ‘BIV01’ as herein illustrated and described.